Offensive defenseman should boost Jackets' power play

Tuesday

Sep 29, 2009 at 12:01 AMSep 29, 2009 at 11:21 AM

At long last, the search has ended.

Blue Jackets general manager Scott Howson had canvassed NHL rosters for more than two seasons, seeking an offensive defenseman who could stoke a moribund power play. In particular, Howson chased Anton Stralman, first while Stralman played for the Toronto Maple Leafs last season and again in July, before he was traded to the Calgary Flames.

At long last, the search has ended.

Blue Jackets general manager Scott Howson had canvassed NHL rosters for more than two seasons, seeking an offensive defenseman who could stoke a moribund power play. In particular, Howson chased Anton Stralman, first while Stralman played for the Toronto Maple Leafs last season and again in July, before he was traded to the Calgary Flames.

Yesterday, less than a week before the season opens, Howson got his man. The Blue Jackets acquired Stralman, 23, from the Flames for a thirdround draft pick in 2010.

"He's still a young player in the league, so he has a lot of upside, too."

The Blue Jackets won't know exactly where Stralman fits in the lineup until he arrives in Columbus and practices, and that could take a while pending an update to his passport that will allow the native of Sweden to work in the United States.

But there's a very good chance Stralman will crack the Blue Jackets' top six and earn significant power-play time. The Jackets plan to keep seven defensemen on the roster to start the season.

"I was kind of shocked by the trade. I was really surprised," Stralman said. "But it feels all good. I feel it's a great opportunity for me.

"I'm not really aware of the situation in Columbus, other than to say it's a really young, talented team and Rick Nash is a superb player."

An NHL source last night confirmed that the Blue Jackets tried to trade for Stralman at the trade deadline in March, then again this summer before the Leafs shipped him to Calgary in a multiplayer, multipick trade.

Stralman had a good camp with the Flames, but general manager Darryl Sutter found himself in a bind this week, needing to get down to 23 players in advance of the 3 p.m. Wednesday deadline.

The Flames, who are stocked on the blue line, did not want to risk losing Stralman with no compensation on waivers, and the Blue Jackets were convinced that Stralman would have been plucked off the waiver wire before they had a chance to claim him. (The Jackets are 15th in the pecking order, based on last year's regularseason standings.)

"I know him from the World Championships in 2008," Blue Jackets coach Ken Hitchcock said. "He's very mobile. He's a defenseman who pushes the pace.

"For us, he has good skill and he has good upside. With our abundance of leftshot defensemen, he's got a chance to make the grade here."

Stralman is eager to get settled. Less than two months ago, he moved from Toronto to Calgary with his then-pregnant wife, Johanna, and 2-year-old daughter, Liv. Now the family's moving back to the other side of North America, this time with 10-day-old son Lowve in tow.

"It's a lot of stuff to do with a family," Stralman said. "It's been very busy, and now it gets busier.

"But as soon as we get there, everything will be great."

aportzline@dispatch.com

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